AQW 48986/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 21/09/2015
Answered On Date: 06/10/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether she intends to announce a rural childcare programme, as part of the Rural Development Programme.

Answer:

You will be aware that OFMDFM is leading on the Executive’s draft Childcare Strategy which is currently out for public consultation. I am fully supportive of the draft strategy. I welcome the proposal in the draft Strategy to look at the rationale of progressing either a centre-based childminding hub or a childminding network approach to support the needs of rural families and to consider developing a pilot in rural areas. I also welcome the fact that rural childcare needs are being main streamed across the full range of proposed actions contained in the Strategy. I encourage you to respond to the consultation which closes on 13th November.

Under the new Rural Development Programme which was recently approved by the EU Commission there may be opportunities within the Leader Programme to provide support to rural childcare projects under the rural Business Investment Scheme. Support may also be available for access to basic services or improvements in social infrastructure to improve the welfare and access to basic services where there is a clear gap in the provision of the service to those living in rural areas.

The schemes to be administered under the Leader Programme will reflect locally identified needs and priorities and will be delivered by 10 Local Action Groups, who will be holding pre-funding workshops to inform potential applicants of scheme requirements, in advance of opening calls for applications.